It goes without saying that quarterback is the most important position in football, and SEC teams did a good job of addressing that in the recent Early Signing Period, either signing or having commitments from 10 of the top 25 quarterbacks nationally (according to 247sports).

They failed, however, to sign a 5-star prospect for the first time since 2013. No matter, because 5-stars don’t always pan out the way you expect them to (Phillip Sims), just like there’s often times a 3-star prospect will not only work out nicely, but even win a Heisman Trophy (Johnny Manziel).

Here are the top 10 SEC QB classes from the past decade, excluding, of course, the 2019 class.

10. 2018

The freshman crop from this year sort of gets an incomplete grade since so few guys saw serious playing time. In all, there were 14 quarterbacks in this class, including 6 4-stars and 1 5-star (Justin Fields, who appears to be on his way out of Athens). A few guys who did see extensive time were a pair of the older players, Terry Wilson (3-star JUCO transfer, Kentucky) and Joe Burrow (transfer from Ohio State), and neither really set the world on fire due to each being the secondary offensive option for their respective teams.

There’s a lot of promise with this class, however, aside from Wilson and Burrow. Emory Jones, a 4-star, has the skill set Dan Mullen, a proven developer of quarterbacks, desires and is expected to mature nicely. Matt Corral looked good in his limited playing time, showing a lot natural arm talent, though after witnessing the Egg Bowl, it’s obvious he needs to learn to stay more level-headed on the field, no matter how endearing his actions were to fans and teammates alike.

9. 2012

This was simply an awful class. There were 15 signees in this class, including 5 4-stars. Who was ultimately the best of this class? Bo Wallace (3-star), who threw for 9,534 yards (62 touchdowns, 41 interceptions), averaging 8 yards per attempt over a 3-year span that was best known for the dramatic 23-17 victory over No. 1 Alabama in 2014. The second-best player from this class, Nathan Peterman (4-star), never even saw meaningful time at Tennessee before transferring to Pitt, where he turned into a 5th-round draft pick.

Astonishingly, 12 of the 15 in this class transferred. So, who stayed? Wallace, Perry Orth (unranked, South Carolina) and Jonathan Wallace (3-star, Auburn), who wound up changing positions. Honestly, we should almost put this class behind the 2018 class, but Wallace (at this point) has accomplished more than the class of 2018 combined.

8. 2014

Just 15 quarterbacks signed, though more than half were 4-stars or better. The crown jewel was 5-star Kyle Allen (Texas A&M), considered the No. 1 QB nationally. Of course, he transferred to Houston after two subpar seasons in College Station, lost his starting job to Kyle Postma (who could forget him?), and went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. Drew Barker (4-star, Kentucky) never fulfilled his recruiting promise, either.

There were two noticeable hits, though, including one who would become one of the biggest steals in recent recruiting history. Nick Fitzgerald was considered the No. 1,566 prospect nationally with his only other offer being Middle Tennessee State, and will finish his career as the all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks in SEC history. Will Grier (4-star) is the only other guy who met or exceeded expectations in this class, though he only played half a season for the Gators due to a suspension and wound up transferring to West Virginia, where, in 22 games he’s thrown for 7,354-yards and 71 touchdowns while leading one of the most prolific offenses in the country.

Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

7. 2013

A whopping 25 quarterbacks signed, with the nearly half (12) being 4-star prospects. Interestingly, multiple schools signed multiple 4-star QBs – LSU (Hayden Rettig, Anthony Jennings), Ole Miss (Ryan Buchanon, DeVante Kincaid) and Texas A&M (Kenny Hill, Kohl Stewart) – and unbelievably enough, only Hill found a modicum of success, albeit at TCU. Jeremy Johnson (Auburn’s 4-star) is likely the biggest bust of the group, a guy with all the talent in the world who just couldn’t put it together when game time rolled around.

So, who did pan out? Josh Dobbs (4-star, Tennessee) undeniably had the best career, finishing only behind Peyton Manning in all-time yards and touchdowns in Knoxville, and wound up becoming a 4th-round draft pick. Riley Ferguson also signed with Tennessee, but he wound up making his mark at Memphis, where in two years he threw for 7,955-yards and 70 touchdowns. Nick Marshall, a 3-star, accounted for 6,374-yards of total offense and 57 touchdowns in just two years while also beating Alabama and leading the Tigers to the national title game in 2013.

Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

6. 2009

Of the 17 quarterbacks, 10 were ranked as 4-star or better, with 2 5-stars in Russell Shepard (LSU) and Aaron Murray (Georgia). Surprisingly, Kentucky actually signed 2 4-stars (Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski), though neither really panned out. Zach Mettenberger (4-star, Georgia) was also in this class but he wound up being kicked off the team and wound up at LSU.

There were really only 2 hits, and they each finished with outstanding careers at two of the most iconic programs in all of college football – AJ McCarron (4-star, Alabama) and Aaron Murray (5-star, Georgia). McCarron was a part of 3 national titles (2 as starter) and finished as the programs all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. Murray was a 4-year starter and threw for 13,166 yards and 121 touchdowns, both totals the most in SEC history.

5. 2016

The 2016 class featured just 16 signees, with half being 4 or 5-star prospects. There were 2 5-star prospects in this group – Shea Patterson (Ole Miss) and Jacob Eason (Georgia) – though both transferred. Florida is still hoping that either Feleipe Franks (4-star) or Kyle Trask (3-star) can develop into something special, and while Franks had a solid first year under Dan Mullen, it doesn’t appear that he’ll ever be a true difference maker.

The biggest hits of this class would surprise you if you went back to Signing Day in 2016. Jalen Hurts (4-star) had two magical years as a starter for Alabama, leading them to two national title games and winning SEC OPOY, and bailed them out in the SEC Championship Game this year. Jake Bentley (4-star, South Carolina) has thrown for 7,167-yards and 54 touchdowns in 32-games, though his performance in big games is still skeptical. Stephen Johnson (3-star, Kentucky) was the biggest steal of the class, as he essentially saved Mark Stoops’ job in 2016 and 2017.

Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

4. 2010

The bulk of the 2010 class is filled with underwhelming and underperforming busts, but the guy at the very top of this class carries it, just like he did for his college team in 2010. There were 22 quarterbacks signed in this class, though just 5 were 4-stars or better. The highest ranked of the bunch, Phillip Sims (5-star, Alabama) was a bust and transferred to Virginia, where he similarly failed to find success. Tyler Bray (4-star, Tennessee) finished top-4 on the school’s all-time list for passing yards and touchdowns, and Connor Shaw (3-star, South Carolina) and Dylan Thompson (3-star, South Carolina) each enjoyed successful careers in Columbia.

The star of the class, of course, was Cam Newton (4-star, Auburn), who, in his lone season on The Plains, produced one of the most dominating seasons in SEC history. Not only did he beat Alabama and lead Auburn to a national title, he also became the third Tiger to win a Heisman Trophy. He followed that up by not only becoming the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2011, but also winning NFL MVP in 2015.

Photo credit: Todd Van Emst / Auburn University Athletics

3. 2011

Of the 22 quarterback signees in 2011, just 6 were 4 or 5-star prospects, yet this wound up being a solid class. Florida signed two guys who are now in the NFL, though neither led the Gators to the top of the mountain. Jeff Driskel was the lone 5-star in the class, and after four subpar seasons in Gainesville, transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he found success. Jacoby Brissett (4-star) transferred to N.C. State after two years and developed into a 3rd-round draft pick. Zach Mettenberger (4-star) finally found his rhythm as a senior (3,082 yards, 64.9 percent completion, 22/8), though he did have the luxury of playing alongside Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry and Jeremy Hill.

There were two monster hits in this class, and each were diamonds in the rough. Dak Prescott (3-star, Mississippi State) went on to throw for 9,376-yards with 70 touchdowns and 23 interceptions, while also rushing for 2,521-yards and another 41 scores, ultimately becoming the best player in program history. Johnny Manziel (3-star) went on to win the Heisman Trophy after his 2012 campaign, in which he threw for 3,706 yards (26/9) and rushing for 1,410, accounting for 47 touchdowns. In just two seasons as the starting quarterback (or 26 games), Manziel racked up 9,989 yards of offense and 93 touchdowns – simply staggering numbers.

2. 2015

This class was relatively low on signees – just 15, in fact – though there’s a high hit rate. 8 of the quarterbacks in this class were 4-stars or better, and Kyler Murray (Texas A&M) was the highest ranked of the bunch, considered the No. 1 dual-threat QB in the country. Of course, we’re all well aware that he did ultimately live up to the lofty billing, winning the 2018 Heisman Trophy after transferring to Oklahoma.

Other stars include Drew Lock (4-star, Mizzou), Chad Kelly (3-star, Ole Miss) and Kyle Shurmur (4-star, Vandy). Lock, who could be a 1st-round draft pick in a few months, wound up breaking the SEC single-season record for passing touchdowns (44) and with one game yet to play, has thrown for 11,820-yards and 96 touchdowns. Kelly enjoyed arguably the finest season ever by an Ole Miss QB in 2015, not only beating No. 1 Alabama on the road, but throwing for 4,042 yards (31/13) and rushing for another 509 yards and 10 scores, capping the season off with a Sugar Bowl victory. Shurmur (8,579 passing yards, 63 touchdowns) wound up surpassing Jay Cutler as best QB in program history.

1. 2017

Finally, we get to the best class, and surprisingly, one of the more recent. There were 19 quarterbacks in this class, with 7 being 4-stars or better. Five guys stand out, and they’re the guys who make this class so special – Tua Tagovailoa (5-star, Alabama), Jarrett Stidham (4-star, Auburn), Jake Fromm (4-star, Georgia), Jordan Ta’amu (3-star, Ole Miss) and Kellen Mond (4-star, Texas A&M).

Of course, Tagovailoa and Fromm are what sets this class apart from the rest. Just sophomores, these two are already among the best college football players in America. As starting QBs, they are a combined 36-4, with 2 SEC Championships, 2 national title game appearances and 1 National Championship. Oh, and Tagovailoa was a Heisman finalist this year and has a chance to add his first national title. Good grief.

Fromm followed his freshman campaign of 2,615-yards (62.2 percent completion) and 24 touchdowns with an even better sophomore season of 2,537-yards (68.4 percent completion) and 27 touchdowns. Tagovailoa, who became famous for his heroics in last year’s title game, enjoyed the best season ever by an Alabama QB, throwing for 3,353 yards with 37 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions, averaging a phenomenal 11.4 yards per attempt.

Give it another year and this class will continue to distance itself from the pack.